Author: Beaver County Radio

Twila J. Zendt (1952-2026)

Twila J. Zendt, 74, passed away peacefully at home in Rochester on March 30th, 2026, surrounded by her loved ones after a long and courageous battle with MDS blood cancer. She was born on November 24th, 1952, a daughter of the late Jesse Dilling and Rena Hardman. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband and the love of her life, Lee Snyder Zendt. She is survived by her two daughters, Twila Cox of Darlington and Hope Matos of Rochester, her beloved and “favorite” son-in-law, Jose Matos, her two sisters, Sandy Ambrose and Wanda Wright (Donald Wright), numerous nieces and nephews, nine grandchildren: Holly Altenburg (partner David Bailey), Ciera Springer (Joshua Springer), Randy, Zachary, Dennis, Katie Cox, Tiffany Cox, Joe Cox, and Travis Bratt; as well as seventeen great-grandchildren who brought her immense joy, her beloved cat, Dusty, who was always by her side, and her lifelong friends, Winnie Klink, Sherry Bishop, and Barb McBride, who stood by her through the years.

Twila was a loving mother, grandmother, and Great Grandmother, sister, and friend whose strength and devotion to her family never wavered. She had a deep love for those closest to her and found her greatest happiness in the time she spent with them. She would like to extend a special and heartfelt thank you to her daughter, Hope, for the compassionate and devoted care she provided during Twila’s end-of-life journey. Deep gratitude is also extended to the staff of Pinnacle Hospice: Jenna, Jessica, and Christine, for their kindness, compassion, and support during this difficult time. Her strength, love, and unwavering dedication to her family will never be forgotten. She will be deeply missed and forever held in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.

Friends will be received on Friday, April 3rd from 4 P.M. until the time of a Memorial Service at 6 P.M. in the Huntsman Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Rochester, 502 Adams Street, Rochester, who was in charge of her arrangements. Interment will take place on Saturday, April 4th at 10 A.M. in Crest Haven Memorial Gardens, 6086 OH-7, New Waterford, Ohio.

Claudette “Jane” LaMantia (1943-2026)

Claudette “Jane” LaMantia, 83, of Midland, passed away peacefully on March 30th, 2026. She was born in Midland on February 17th, 1943, a daughter of the late Charles and Agnes Cirelli. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Richard LaMantia. She is survived by her two brothers, Chuck (Ruth) Cirelli of Ohioville and Randy (Bev) Cirelli of Valencia, her sister, Patricia (Rev. Dave) Frank of Erie and her cherished nieces and nephews: Tami (Keith) Burke, Chuck (June) Cirelli, Cristen (Rev. Will) Bridges, David (Kristen) Frank, Steven (Erica) Frank, Jared Cirelli, Caleb (Abbey) Cirelli, Karri (Richie) Hall, and Bill Parsons; along with many great-nieces and nephews and great-great-nieces and nephews who brought her great joy.

Claudette was a lifelong resident of the community she loved. She married Richard LaMantia on October 26th, 1985, and together they built a life rooted in faith. She dedicated 43 years of her life to working at the Beaver County Courthouse in the Data Processing Department before her retirement. She was known for her strong work ethic and kindness. She was a woman of deep faith who was a lifelong member of Christian Assembly Family Church in Ohioville, where she faithfully served as a board member, teacher, church camp counselor, and active participant in church life. Her love for the Lord and her church family was evident in everything she did. The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Beaver Meadows for the excellent care and compassion they provided to Jane during her final year.

Friends will be received on Wednesday, April 8th from 10 a.m. until the time of service at 1 p.m. at Christian Assembly Family Church, 6241 Tuscarawas Road, Ohioville. Pastor Bill Anzevino will officiate. A private interment will follow at Beaver Cemetery, Buffalo Street, Beaver.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Noll Funeral Home, Inc. 333 Third Street, Beaver. Online condolences may be shared at nollfuneral.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Christian Assembly Church or Bridges for Life Ministries, 6241 Tuscarawas Road, Industry, PA 15052.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Claudette Jane LaMantia, please visit the flower store of the Noll Funeral Home, Inc. by clicking here.

Free “Week of the Young Child” Event to be held April 18th at the Monarch Training Institute in Butler

(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of The Butler County Early Care & Education Council)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Butler, PA) The Butler County Early Care & Education Council, which is a community collaboration to support school readiness, will be celebrating national “Week of the Young Child” with a free special event called “Early Learning is Dino-mite!” on Saturday, April 18th from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Monarch Training Institute at Monarch Place in Butler. This is especially designed for young children from birth through grade school and it includes more than 20 learning activities, a visit from Readasaurus the Dinosaur, a show from Mad Science, community resources, prizes and more. Each participating family will receive a free book that is called “Don’t Blow Your Top” while supplies last. According to a release today from the Butler County Early Care & Education Council, here are the scheduled activities for this event:

Scheduled Activities: 

10:30 am – 1:30 pm: Meet Readasaurus the Dinosaur! Photo opportunity provided by 

Family Pathways. 

11:30 am: STORY TIME “Don’t Blow Your Top” read by the South Butler Community Library. 

11:45 am: MUSIC “Roar and Restore!” with Create and Connect Therapy. 

12:30 pm: MOVEMENT “Dinosaur Yoga!” led by Early Learning Resource Center 3. 

1:15 pm: FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT: “Fire and the Ice Age” presented by Mad Science. 

New Brighton Area School District providing approximately 100 boxes of non-perishable food for the upcoming break

(File Photo of the New Brighton Area School District Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(New Brighton, PA) New Brighton Area School District was recently given approximately 100 boxes of non-perishable food for the upcoming break because of a generous donation. They are available to any families that could use them and they are located in the District Administration Office and will be handed out both today from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. through tomorrow at those same times. You may pull up in the Bus Lane to retrieve a box and they will be given out on a first come, first served basis until all of them have been handed out.   

Pittsburgh city council member propose raising city parking meter rates during the 2026 NFL Draft

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Visit Pittsburgh)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) New legislation that was proposed in front of Pittsburgh City Council would increase city parking meter rates Downtown and on the North Shore to $5 per hour during the 2026 NFL Draft. This legislation was proposed by Councilman Bobby Wilson, who represents the city’s District 1, which includes parts of Downtown Pittsburgh and parts of the North Side. Under the proposed legislation, the increased revenue from the higher rates would help to offset expenses to the Public Parking Authority of Pittsburgh. There is expected to be additional manpower that is needed during the upcoming massive three-day event that is being held from April 23rd through April 25th. Existing street parking rates in the city vary from $1.50 per hour to $4 per hour depending on where you park. Parking violations during the proposed rate increase period would cost $120. If the legislation is approved, the increased parking rates would be temporarily in effect from April 22nd through April 27th. California Avenue, East Ohio Street, James Street, Middle Street and Perrysville Avenue on the city’s North Side would be exempt from the increased rates under the proposed legislation. The language of it explains that the existing penalties for parking violations are “unlikely to serve as a disincentive to violations” while parking lot and garage rates on the North Shore are expected to be in the ballpark of over $200 per day.

Ohio man apprehended for trespassing a building in Lawrence County

(File Photo of Handcuffs)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Lawrence County, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in New Castle reported via release today that an unidentified forty-three-year-old man from Cortland, Ohio was apprehended for trespassing a building in Lawrence County on Sunday at 1:58 a.m. A report came in for a man forcing entry into a building on Churchill Road in Shenango Township. It was determined that when police arrived, that man was not allowed to enter the building. He was taken into custody as a result of this incident. 

New Castle woman arrested for driving under the influence of a controlled substance in Lawrence County

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Lawrence County, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in New Castle reported via release yesterday that fifty-two-year-old Stacy Christopher of New Castle was arrested for driving under the influence of a controlled substance in Lawrence County on March 14th, 2026. PSP New Castle barracks conducted a traffic stop in the area of the 100 block of West Balph Avenue at approximately 5:10 p.m. and Christopher displayed signs of impairment during the stop. Christopher was also found with a small amount of marijuana for her personal use and charges will be filed against her.  

Ross Township man who bought over 200 guns accused of trafficking firearms

(File Photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) A Ross Township man who investigators said bought over 200 guns is now accused of trafficking after six of his firearms were recovered by law enforcement in different states with obliterated serial numbers. Forty-three-year-old Benjamin Ford is charged with six counts of illegally selling or transferring firearms after an investigation by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s Allegheny County Gun Violence Task Force. According to the criminal complaint filed by a special agent, Ford bought 205 guns from 2013 to 2024, with most of them purchased from 2020 onward. Since then, investigators confirm six firearms that were bought by Ford have been recovered by law enforcement in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. 

Vehicle found with no operator in Aliquippa in incident of stolen property; investigation pending

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Badge)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Aliquippa, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Beaver reported via release today an investigation is pending because of an incident of receiving stolen property that happened in Aliquippa on March 1st, 2026. Police attempted a traffic stop in the area of the 700 block of Sheffield Avenue at 1:24 a.m. and a vehicle was located with no operator. The victim was thirty-four-year-old Diomar Pinhiero of Westerville, Ohio. 

Judge says University of Pennsylvania must turn over information about Jewish employees in US discrimination probe

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – University of Pennsylvania signage is seen in Philadelphia, May 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A federal judge on Tuesday ordered the University of Pennsylvania to hand over records about Jewish employees on campus to a federal agency as part of an investigation into antisemitic discrimination but said it did not have to reveal any employee’s affiliation with a specific group.

U.S. District Judge Gerald Pappert said employees can refuse to take part in the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigation but the agency “needs the opportunity to talk to them directly to learn if they have evidence of discrimination.”

He mostly upheld an administrative subpoena but said Penn does not have to disclose any worker’s affiliation with a Jewish-related organization nor must it provide information about three Jewish-affiliated groups. He set a deadline of May 1 to comply.

A university spokesperson said in an emailed response that the school is committed to confronting antisemitism and all forms of discrimination and has “taken multiple steps to prevent and address these despicable events.” Penn plans to appeal.

“While we acknowledge the important role of the EEOC to investigate discrimination, we also have an obligation to protect the rights of our employees. We continue to believe that requiring Penn to create lists of Jewish faculty and staff, and to provide personal contact information, raises serious privacy and First Amendment concerns. The University does not maintain employee lists by religion,” the university’s statement read.

It is not unusual for federal investigators looking into employment discrimination to request identities of employees of a particular religion, to facilitate outreach to people who may have been victims, according to a former federal official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the investigation.

Pappert wrote that the university and others who joined the litigation “significantly raised the dispute’s temperature by impliedly and even expressly comparing the EEOC’s efforts to protect Jewish employees from antisemitism to the Holocaust and the Nazis’ compilation of ‘lists of Jews.’” The judge called that “unfortunate and inappropriate.”

Pappert wrote that Penn and the others who opposed the subpoena were primarily concerned about linking employees to Jewish groups, saying “the EEOC no longer seeks any employee’s specific affiliation with a particular Jewish-related organization on campus.”

The judge exempted information about three Jewish organizations from the subpoena — MEOR, Penn Hillel and Chabad Lubavitch House. Executive directors with all three groups had declared in court filings they were legally and financially separate from the university.

“The privacy of persons making use of Chabad at Penn’s services and facilities is vital to Chabad at Penn’s operations,” Rabbi Menachem Schmidt said in a January declaration. “Chabad at Penn is accordingly concerned about the impact that non-consensual disclosure of personal information could have on its mission and activities.”

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigation was prompted in part by a series of incidents, including that someone had shouted antisemitic obscenities and destroyed property at a Jewish student life center, a Nazi swastika was painted on an academic building and “hateful graffiti” was left outside a fraternity.

The investigation has also focused on actions related to protests over the war in Gaza, and Penn’s response to that and other incidents.

The EEOC claimed in a November filing that Penn’s “workplace is replete with antisemitism,” and it told the judge that investigators think “identification of those who have witnessed and/or been subjected to the environment is essential for determining whether the work environment was both objectively and subjectively hostile.”